Machine for tapping mains



C. W. HATHAWAY MACHINE FOR TAPPING MAINS Filed Dec. 3l, 1925 2Sheets-SheetI l Oct. 19 1926.

C. W. HATHAWAY MACHINE FOR TAPPING MAINS Filed Deo. 3l, 1925 2SheetS-Shee'h 2 Y W MW/ n 111. j w 4 /mm Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER W. HATHAWAY, 0F DECAT'UR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ADOLPH MUELLEB,

' TRUSTEE, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR TAPPIN' G MAINS.

Application filed December 31, 1925. Serial No. 78.720.

The present invention relates to improvements in machines for tappingmains for fluid under pressure, such as gas and water, and consists inthe construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafterparticularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a maintapping machine, having an embodiment of the present invention appliedthereto.

Figure 2 is a similar section on an enlarged scale of the improvementsshowing the parts in position assumed when the boring tool is to bewithdrawn from a main.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section substan tially on the line 3 3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4: is a similar view substantially on the line lL-4. of Figure 1.

ln the drawings, 1 designates a gas or water main, and 2 the body of thecylindrical casing of a tapping machine, which is customarily secured inposition on the main by suitable means, such as a chain 3.

The form of tapping machine proper illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing is of a well known type comprising the casing 2, and a boringbar 4, which extends longitudinally through the casing. As usual, thecasing 2 is closed at its upper end by a tubular cap 5, within which isarranged a packing or stuiiing box 6 that closely surrounds the boringbar d.

The operation of the parts of the tapping machine proper illustratedwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it is notthought to be necessary to describe these more in detail here.

According to the present invention, the boring bar 4 is made somewhatlonger than the tapping machines as heretofore y commonly constructed,and the upper or outer end of such bar extends through a sectionalsleeve or casing and projects sllghtly beyond the upper end thereof.

The sleeve or casing referred to comprises two sections 8, 9', which aredetachably connected, as by bolts 10, the meetin ends of said sectionsbeing expanded or en arged to provide a gear casing or housing withinwhich are arranged a worm gear 11 and a worm 12, the latter beingsecured to a shaft 13 mounted in bearings on the casing and provided atone end with a handle or crank 14, by which it may be rotated.

The boring bar 4 is provided with a longitudinal extending groove 4,within which is fitted a key 11 on the gear 11, so that while the barwill be rotated with the gear 11, it is also ossible to move the same1ongitu'dinally re ative to said gear to move the lower end toward andfrom the main as is required in operating the .tapping machine.

It will be seen that the ear 11 is provided with an elongated upwar lyprojecting hub 15, which has a bearin in the upper portion 8 of thesectional s eeve or gear casing before referred to. This elongatedbearing, provided by contact between the hub 15 and the surroundingporition of the sectional casing, serves to maintain the ar and otherparts in proper relation an hold the boring bar in the desired position.

The upper end of the-cap 5 of the cylindrical casing 2 of the tappingmachine is enlarged to provide an annular shoulder 16. This upperenlarged portion of the ca extends into a socket formed in the owermember 9 of the sectional casing and gear housing and an annulus or ring17 secured to the lower end of said member 9 cooperates with theshoulder 16 to prevent the gear casing from being lifted vertically outo en` gagement with the cap 5.

As is customary in tappin machines, longitudinal movement of thel(boring bar 4 is effected through a connection between a nut 20 and theupper end of said bar, whereby as the nutlis rotated pressure will beapr plied to force the bar downward.

The nut 20 engages a threaded section 8a of the sectional gear casin andsaid nut is provided with diametrical y opposite trunnions 21, on whichare mounted the members of a yoke 22. l

The upper end of the. boring bar is reduced and extends into a socketformed in a plug 23, which is received in the socket formed in theclosed end of the yoke 22, a

suitable nut 24 being provided for retain.

ing this plug in engagement with the yoke. Preferably anti-frictionballs 25 are inter posed between the end of the yoke, and the plug 23,so that rotation of the boring bar will not be retarded.

The gear casing and parts carried thereby are adapted to be maintainedin rigid relation to the cylinder 2 of the tapping machine, while theboring bar is being actuated to penetrate the main 1, or to apply atting to such main, the connection between the casing members beingadapted to be released so that the gear casing and boring bar may befreely rotated together relative to the body of the tapping machine inorder to withdraw the tool at the inner end of the bar from engagementwith the main.

Various forms of detachable locking means for effecting this purpose maybe provided. As shown, the depending skirt-like portion of the lowersection 9 of the gear casing is provided with a laterally extendingtubular branch 30, within which is arranged a reciprocating locking pin31 adapted to enter any of a plurality of sockets or radial apertures 5aformed in the outer enlarged section of the cap member 5 of the tappingmachine. As shown, there are four of these apertures 5, and the in y31is adapted to enter any one of these. IlJBy these means the positionofthe gear casing relative to the casing of the tapping machine may bevaried so that the actuating crank arm 14 will be arranged for easymanipulation in the particular trench or pit in which the machine is tobe operated.

The locking pin 31 is constantly pressed toward the boring bar by acoiled spring 32, which is arranged between la shoulder or abutment inthe bore of the member -30 and the head of the pin 31. The outer end ofthe stem of the pin 31 is shown as bfurcated, and Within the bifurcationis secured a wing member 33. When the parts are in operative position toprevent relative rotation between the gear casing and the cap of thecasing of the tapping machine proper, this wing member 33 is within asuitable slot formed in the outer end of the lateral projection 30. Byexerting ressure outward on this enlarged, wing-li e, head, the pin willbe withdrawn from the cooperating socket or aperture 5, and when thuswithdrawn a quarter turn of the pin will position the enlarged head 33at right angles to the slot in the plug 30, and cause such head tocooperate with the outer end of the plug to retain the arts in theposition shown in full lines in lgigure 2.

When the machine is operated to produce a cut in the wall of the main 1,or to effect the connection with the main of a corporatlon stop, forexample the boring bar will be rotated by turnin the shaft 13, and gears12 and 11, longitu lnal feeding movement of the bar being produced byoccasionally rotatin the nut 20 and through the lug 23 within the closedend of the yoke 22, fbrcing the bar downward.

This operation involves a relative slow rotation of the boring bar, andafter the desired cut inthe main has been effected, the bar may be morerapidly disengaged by first moving the yoke 22 upward slightly on thethreaded section 8* of the gear casing and disconnecting it from theupper end o the boring bar, after which the cranlr 1l may be engagedwith a polygonal section 4l at the outer end of the projecting bar, andwhen the locking pin 31 is adjusted to disconnect the casing member 9from the cap 5, the bar may be rapidly rotated. During this rapidrotation of the boring bar the entire gear casing and gear containedtherein rotate with the bar relative to the tapping machine proper.

It is believed that the operation and advantages incident to theimprovements will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptionin connection with the drawings.

It will be seen that applicants invention provides a very simple meansby which the oring bar of a ta ping machine may be positively actuated ygears, and, when desired, the bar may be rapidly rotated in a reversedirection to disconnect the tool carried thereby from the main. l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In amachine for tapping mains, the combination with a casing adapted to besecured to a main, and a boring bar extending through the outer end ofsaid casing, of a sectional sleeve rotatably surrounding the casingadjacent its outer end, a shaft j ournaled in bearings on said sleeve,gearing housed within the sleeve and connecting said shaft and boringbar, for rotating the bar while permitting longitudinal movementthereof, connections between said sleeve and the boring bar for feedingthe bar longitudinally, and an adjustable connection between said sleeveand casing normally hold- 'ingbsaid parts in rigid relation and adaptedt0 e adjusted to permit the sleeve and gearing housed therein to turnwith the boring bar relative to the casing.

2. In a. machine for tapping mains, the combination with a casing adated to be secured to a main, and a boring ar extending through the outerend of said casing, of a sectional sleeve rotatably surrounding thecasing adjacent its outer end, a sha-ft journaled in bearings on saidsleeve, gearing housed within the sleeve and connecting said shaft andboring bar, for rotating the bar While permitting longitudinal. movementthereof, connections between said sleeve and the boring bar for feedingthe bar longitudinally, and a latch member carried by the sleeve andadapted to engage the casing at any of a plurality of points to maintaina rigid connection between said parts or to be positioned to permit thesleeve and gearing housed therein to turn with the boring bar relativeto the casing.

3. In a machine for tapping mains, the combination with a casing adaptedto be secured to a main, and a boring bar extending through the outerend of said casing, of a sectional sleeve rotatably surrounding thecasing adjacent its outer end, a shaft journaled in bearing on saidsleeve, gearing housed within thesleeve and connecting said shaft andboring bar, for rotating the bar while permitting longitudinal movementthereof, connections between said sleeve and the boring bar for feedingthe bar longitudinally, a plurality of circumferentially spaced socketsor apertures being formed in t e portion of the casing surrounded by thesleeve, and a lock pin carried b the sleeve and adapted to engage any osaid sockets or apertures and hold the sleeve in rigid relation to thecasing, the sleeve and gearing housed therein bein rotatable with theboring bar relative to t e casing when said pinis withdrawn fromengagement with the casing.

4. In a mac ine for tap ingl mains, the combination of a casing apted tobe secured to a main, a borin bar extending through the outer end of t ecasing, a sectional sleeveV loosely surrounding the casing adjacent itsouter end, and provided at an intermediate point in its length with anenlarged portion constitutin a gear housing, a

ear wlthin and complete y enclosed by said ousing engaging the boringbar to rotate it but permitting longitudinal movement of the barrelative to said gearfsaid gear having an elongated hub ortionsurrounding the boring bar and havin a bearing in the sleeve above thegear housing portion thereof, means for actuatin said gear extending tothe outside of the ousing, and connections between the sleeve and borinbar for effecting longitudinal movement o the boring bar.

5, In a machine for tap ing mains, the combination of a casing adi!O tedto be secured to a main, a .boring ar extending through the outer end ofthe casing, means for rotating the boring bar, an externally threadedsleeve surrounding the borin bar between its outer end and the casing anconnected with the latter, a nut engaging the thread on said sleeve, ayokepivotally connected to the nut and extendlng across the outer end ofthe boring rod, a plug having a socket receiving the outer end of theboring bar, means securin said pluv in position within 4the outer en ofthe ydke, and antifriction balls arranged between said plug and theclosed end of the yoke.

6. In a machinev for tapping mains, the l combination of a casi adaptedto be secured to a main and aving an annular lange about its outer end,a boring bar exten ing through the outer end of the casin a sectionalsleeve surrounding the casing ajacent its outer end and having a memberextending beneath said iiange and preventing separation of the casinAand sleeve in the direction of the length of ille latter, earing withinthe sleeve ada ted to rotate t e boring bar, a crank outsi e the sleevefor actuating the gearin means cooperating with the boring bar an sleevefor feeding the boring bar lon 'tudinall and adjustable means normallyolding t e sleeve in rigid relation with the casing and adapted to bepositioned to permit the sleeve and gearing to rotate with the borin barrelative to the casing.

7. In a mac ine for tapping mains, the combination with a casing adaptedto be secured to a main, aca for the outer end of said casina', a boringar extending longitudinally througl said cap, 'a worm gear splined tothe ring bar, a sup ort for said garing on the casing cap an adapted toturned about the axis of the boring bar, an actuating worm for the gear,means for effecting lon itudinal movement of the borlng bar relative tothe gear, and means normally holding the worm ar support againstmovement relative to t e casing ca and adapted to be adjusted to permitsai support and the gearing to rotate bodily with the boring bar.

8. In a machine for tapping mains, the combination with a casing adaptedto be secured to a main, a boring bar extendin longitudinally throughthe outer end o said casing, a sleeve rotatably surrounding the casingadjacent its outer end, gearing supported by said sleeve and engagingthe bor- 1n bar to rotate it while rmittlng lon 3 tu al movementthereoP-erelative to t e gearing, means for effecting such longitudinalmovement of the bar, and an adjustable spring vressed lock pin extendingradially of the s eeve and normally engaging the casing to hold saidparts in rigid relation, the sleeve and gearing being rotatable with theboring bar relative to the casing when said pin is adjusted toinoperative sition.

In testimony whereof ,I have ereunto set my hand.

CHESTER w. HATHAWAY.

